Gracie’s last visit to Rochdale, for the opening of the Gracie Fields Theatre | The Official Gracie Fields The Official Gracie Fields The website for 'The Dame Gracie Fields Appreciation Society' Search Gracie’s last visit to Rochdale, for the opening of the Gracie Fields Theatre Arriving at the Town Hall September 1978 saw the last visit of Gracie to her home town, for the honor of the opening of the Gracie Fields Theatre on September 16th. A hectic schedule included visits to hospitals and schools, charity events and the opening the new shopping centre in the middle of Rochdale. Entertaining school children. I have obliterated a certain persons face, he doesn’t belong in the same photo as our Gracie Gracie was honoured with a luncheon at Manchester Town Hall, where she was presented with a gold disc by Warwick Records, for sales of her record ‘The Golden Years.’ After an appearance on Pebble Mill, alongside Sandy Powell, Gracie and Boris returned to Rochdale. Talking during her visit Talking during her visit The culmination of her visit was a surprise appearance at the end of the opening concert at the Gracie Fields Theatre.

Although the audience knew that Gracie was going to be in attendance at the event, it was not known whether or not she would perform. Tickets sold out within minutes of the booking office opening, though complaints were sent to the Rochdale Observer that MPs and dignitaries received 100 free tickets. On stage at the opening of GF theatre Gracie’s performance At the end of the concert, featuring Ben Warris, Sandy Powell and Larry Grayson, Gracie took to the stage. She had been rehearsing with Bert Waller secretly for a number of days at Peacehaven, and at the end of the concert took to the stage for half an hour to sing some of her old favourites. Gracie tried to add ‘Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs’, but couldn’t get all the words out. Gracie Fields Walking Tours Rochdale | The Official Gracie Fields The Official Gracie Fields The website for 'The Dame Gracie Fields Appreciation Society' Search Gracie Fields Walking Tours Rochdale A) Hughtrede Street The Stansfield family were known to have lived in Hughtred St for a time when they were “going oop”.

It was while living here, in 1914, that Jenny Stansfield signed Gracie’s first professional contract to join Percy Hall’s agency and star in ‘It’s A Bargain!’ B) Milkstone Road Formerly the sight of the Schofield’s corner off-licence. Bertha and Ada Schofield were close family friends of the Stansfield family, and Gracie always visited them on her returns to Rochdale up to the 1960s. Quite often in the 1930s, when playing in Rochdale, Gracie lodged with the Schofields. C) Fishwick Street Site of Touchstone’s ‘Arts and Heritage Resource Centre’ accredited with full museum status. They hold and care for an extensive Gracie Fields archive which can be viewed on request. Their collection includes many of Gracie’s personal belongings donated to the town, including certificates, awards, scrapbooks and various mementoes presented to her. Viewing by appointment. D) Molesworth Street Site of the famous ‘fish and chip shop’ bought by Sarah Stansfield in 1896.

Gracie was born in the upstairs bedroom of the building, and Jenny and Fred lived here with Fred’s mother for a number of years. The family eventually moved out, and the building remained a fish and chip shop into the 1960s when it was demolished. In 1953, Alderman Bryning self-funded a plaque for the building, which remains on the spot to this day. There are plans currently to redevelop the current empty site in honour of Gracie. E) Rochdale Infirmary Rochdale Infirmary were regular recipients of Gracie’s charitable donations, and she opened the new wing of the infirmary in the late 1960s. F) 10 Baron Street The Stansfield family were known to have lived at this property for the longest period of time. It was here, close to a theatrical boarding house, that Gracie was ‘discovered’ singing and taken to join Charburn’s Young Stars. G) The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre Opened by Gracie on her final visit to the town in 1978. There is a plaque on the entrance of the shopping centre commemorating this event.

H) The Regal Moon Cinema Now a Wetherspoons pub, so you can call in for a drink mid-tour! Gracie performed in a charity concert here in April 1949 on her return to the town. There is a photographic display of Gracie on one of the walls inside the pub. I) The Champness Hall Gracie marked her return to broadcasting after the Second World War at the Champness Hall, when ‘Our Gracie’s Working Party’ was broadcast live from here in 1947. This was the first of a series of 12 weekly concerts which brought Gracie back into mainstream popularity thanks to the BBC. J) 82-86 Drake Street, Rochdale. The former site of the Rochdale Observer newspaper head offices. Gracie laid the foundation stone of this building on her return in 1954. This cornerstone, with faded inscription, is still visible today. K) Rochdale Town Hall The epicentre of all Gracie’s visits to Rochdale, as she was often welcomed with a luncheon in the Hall; performed to crowds of thousands from the balcony and was made a Freeman of the Borough inside the Hall in 1937.

At present, there is a photographic display of Gracie on show in the Town Hall, arranged between Link4Life, Rochdale Rotary and the Dame Gracie Fields Appreciation Society. Note: In close proximity to the Town Hall are the sites of two former venues which Gracie frequently performed at: The Rochdale Hippodrome and The Rialto Cinema (which Gracie opened in 1928). Just behind the Town Hall, up a flight of steps through gardens, is St Chad’s Church. This is where Jenny and Fred Stanfield were married in 1897 and where Gracie and her sisters were baptised. L) Touchstones Museum and Local Studies Have a small Gracie Fields display as part of their main gallery, and a recreated cinema booth where you can enjoy video clips of Gracie. As of May 2014, there a new exhibition called ‘Talking Heads’ features items belonging to Gracie. M) Rochdale Cemetery The final resting place of ‘Chip Sarah’ Leighton. It is likely that other members of Gracie’s family are buried in the cemetery, but these have yet to be investigated. It is highly probable that ‘Auntie Margaret’ is buried somewhere in the cemetery.

N) The Gracie Fields Theatre An all-purpose theatre opened by Gracie in September 1978, where Gracie made an unexpected 30 minute appearance at the first concert. A plaque commemorates the opening and there is a display of memorabilia and photographs in the theatre bar. O) Whatmough Street (off the map) The Stansfield family were known to have lived at Whatmough Street for a period of time while moving “oop”. It is likely that they moved back into the centre of town. Theatres in Rochdale, Lancashire, Greater Manchester Theatres in Rochdale, Lancashire, Greater Manchester The Gracie Fields Theatre, Oulder Hill Leisure Complex, Hudsons Walk, Rochdale Above - A Google StreetView Image of the Gracie Fields Theatre, Rochdale - Click to Interact The Gracie Fields Theatre is situated at Oulder Hill Leisure Complex, Hudsons Walk, Rochdale and has a Main auditorium plus a smaller Studio theatre. The Theatre was opened by Gracie Fields herself on the 16th of September 1978, which would turn out to be her last visit to the town where she was born.

Appearing at the end of the opening Concert which also featured Sandy Powell, Larry Grayson, and Ben Warris, Gracie performed some of her best loved songs to a surprised audience. Gracie Fields was a famous singer, actress, and comedienne. Born Grace Stansfield in Rochdale on the 9th January 1898 , and died in Capri, where she retired to, on the 27th September 1979. She was a 'National Treasure' very highly regarded and loved by the British public. She starred in many shows, variety , radio, and television. appearing many times in the Royal Variety Shows. Famous for her song 'Sally' which was written into the film ' Sally in our Alley ' in 1931. She was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1938 (for services to entertainment), also the freedom of Rochdale being bestowed on her the same year. In February 1979 she was made Dame Commander of the British Empire. The Theatre's main auditorium is a flexible space, with raked seating for 688 people with an end on stage situated on the flat floor.

It has no proscenium as such but the stage curtain (house tabs) together with border form the proscenium. There is a fly tower, with 33 flying bars, but no fire curtain. The stage dimensions are:- Overall stage width 24.5 metres, with a proscenium width of 12.2 metres; Stage depth being 6.5 metres from House tabs to the back wall, and 9.05 metres from the front of the stage apron to the back wall. There is an orchestra pit capable of housing 10 musicians. The Studio Theatre has a raked auditorium with flexible seating, and is also fitted out with black tabs and border for end on productions. The Theatre complex has a licensed lounge bar for patrons, on the first floor, with a refreshment kiosk on the ground floor. Backstage there are two dressing rooms capable of holding ten people. For larger casts, the adjacent gym in the Leisure centre can be used. The Theatre presents a wide selection of shows, staging Rock, Pop, and Jazz performances, together with Classical concerts. It is home to the Rochdale Youth Orchestra.

Comedy, Drama, Musicals and Dance performances are also presented, and Rochdale Amateur Operatic Society also perform at the Theatre. Thus Rochdale now has a vibrant modern Theatre catering for most tastes, carrying on the tradition of theatre in the town. You may like to visit the Theatre's own Website here . The above article on the Gracie Fields Theatre was written for this site by David Garratt in April 2014 and is © David Garratt 2014. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me . The Empire Music Hall, Town Hall Square and Packer Street, Rochdale Also known as - The Empire Hall / Pringles Picture Palace / The Empire De Luxe Cinema Above - A Google StreetView Image of the former Empire Music Hall, Rochdale - Click to Interact The Empire Music Hall was situated on the corner of the Town Hall Square, and Packer Street, Rochdale. Built and opened in 1904 the building was designed to reflect the Gothic style of the Town Hall.

The building's exterior has five bays, the outside ones having a pinnacle roof, with a pediment high over the central bay with the words 'EMPIRE HALL'. At balcony level there is a 'speakers balcony.' Inside the auditorium the ceiling is barrel-vaulted with plaster ornamentation in the form of geometric designs. When built originally there was a horseshoe shaped balcony, terminating at the proscenium arch. The Music Hall was in existence until approximately 1910 when Cine/Variety took over, continuing until approximately 1918 when the Empire became a Cinema. In 1910 the owner/management was Ralph Pringle, who earlier had shown pioneering films at the ' Circus of Varieties ' in the town, in 1903 and 1907 . In 1929 the auditorium's horseshoe balcony was removed and a curved cinema balcony put in its place. The orchestra enclosure was also removed and the stage depth decreased, only now being large enough to accommodate the screen and two speakers for 'talkie' films. The proscenium was made larger but also recessed more, so that the seating capacity was increased.

Tip up chairs were installed in the stalls area, and the circle chairs were mahogany, inlaid and covered in rose moquette. The floors were covered in 1,200 yards of Wilton carpet, and the whole of the auditorium redecorated with glazed walls with a deep ornamental frieze installed, and antique silver medallions placed in the centre of the wall panels. Coloured electric footlights and helophane glass fittings were also installed. Either side of the proscenium two female figures were installed, one representing Art, and the other Music. The old Empire was renamed 'The Empire De Luxe Cinema. In the 1950's the showing of films ended and the cinema became a Bingo Hall. In 1952 the ownership of the building was in the hands of Jacksons Amusements, local entrepreneurs. In 1995 the building became a Bar/Pub in the stalls area only, the balcony being bricked off from pubic use by a wall built upwards at the balcony frontage edge. The Building has a good position in central Rochdale and its current usage is as the Dali Bar - A Pub complete with its own Disc Jockey.

The above article on the Empire Music Hall was written for this site by David Garratt in April 2014 and is © David Garratt 2014. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me . The Palace Theatre, Great George Street, off Drake Street, Rochdale Later - The Palace Picture House / The Palace Tudor Super Cinema / Scene One / Xanadu Nightclub The Palace Theatre was built in Great George Street, off Drake Street, Rochdale, opening on the 4th December 1911 . From the start the Theatre was equipped as a cinema with projection equipment but also staged Variety shows, known as Cine/Variety, the variety acts performing between showings of the short films in the programme. The Palace Theatre was taken over by The Northern Cinema chain of picture houses, and renamed 'Palace Picture House', by 1922. By the late twenties, early thirties, the cinema had a revamp, and upon re-opening was renamed the Palace Tudor Super Cinema and was now showing 'talkies'.

It became part of the Essoldo chain of cinema's in October of 1957 continuing until 31st August 1968, where upon it was then owned by a series of private owners, showing Asian and Euro/Asian films. The Palace Tudor Super Cinema finally closed as a cinema in November 1981, being converted into a night club known as 'Scene One'. This was destroyed by fire in April 1987, but was rebuilt as the 'Xanadu Nightclub'. The Xanadu Nighclub closed in 2002 and the following year the building was demolished. The above article on the Palace Theatre was written for this site by David Garratt in April 2014 and is © David Garratt 2014. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me .

The Theatre Royal & Opera House, Theatre Street, Rochdale Formerly - The Prince of Wales Theatre, Manchester Road The Theatre Royal & Opera House was situated in Theatre Street, Rochdale and originally opened on Friday the 22nd of November 1867 as the Prince of Wales Theatre, with a production of 'The Hunchback'. At this time the location was known as Manchester Road. The Theatre was designed by Edward Salomons , the architect of the Prince's Theatre, Manchester and the Prince of Wales Theatre, Liverpool . The Theatre was constructed by Messrs Warburton of Rochdale at a cost of £6,500 and had seating for 2,200 people. The building was reported to have been comparatively plain when it first opened, built of brick with a stone foundation. It was 120ft long by 60ft wide. The Prince of Wales Theatre presented mostly plays and there is little documentation detailing it's progress at this time except that it had a change of name to the Theatre Royal in 1883 .

However, in 1889 the ERA reported on changes to the building in their 17th of August 1889 edition saying:- 'Large alterations and additions are shortly to be made in the Theatre Royal and Opera House, Rochdale. Plans are being prepared by Mr Frank Matcham for the enlargement of the pit and addition of three rows of orchestral stalls. The balcony and gallery are to be altered so as to improve the view of the stage and increase the comfort of the audience. Two very handsome private boxes are to be added, and some adjoining property which has been acquired by Mr Purcell will be utilised for the purpose of forming a new entrance vestibule and staircase leading to the principal parts of the house, with retiring rooms, crush rooms, and other conveniences. Large saloons are also to be added to the theatre on the pit, stalls, circles, and gallery floors. The exterior of the theatre will be much improved, the whole being ornamented with mouldings and pilasters; and an iron and glass shelter is to be erected over the new entrances.

Three additional exits will be made, and the whole theatre is to be redecorated from Mr Matcham's designs .' The renovated Theatre reopened on Monday the 19th of August 1889 with a production of 'Hearts of Gold' by Mr Edward Darbey's company. The ERA of 24th August 1889 reported:- 'The piece is a very sensational one, replete with any number of striking though improbable situations and incidents which have been well received by the capital audience nightly assembled. The characters are numerous, and are generally well sustained. The scenery is exceedingly good, and is very well managed.' During the Theatre's renovations new scenery was added to the Theatres stock, painted by Mr Julian Forbes. However, five years later, in the early hours of Saturday morning the 27th January 1894 , The Theatre Royal, burnt down. At about 6.10am a passing Police Constable noticed volumes of smoke issuing from the upper windows of the theatre. He immediately telephoned the fire station who were quickly on the scene with the Inspector of Police, the Fire Brigade and a hose carrier. Soon afterwards two steam fire engines arrived.

The Fire Brigade burst through the stage door with hatchets and carried their hoses onto the stage. Luckily the Fire Curtain had been lowered and they were able to cut two holes in this and push the hoses through. The auditorium was ablaze with sheets of fire leaping across the rows of seats. Unfortunately they made little impression on the fire, and by 7am the fire was at its fiercest. Sparks were flying in all directions and the blaze was visible at a distance of several miles. The Fire Brigade were only able to prevent the fire from damaging the nearby Theatre Hotel. After the blaze was finally out there was a scene of utter devastation. The roof had gone and only the bare skeleton of the auditorium was still standing. The supporting pillars holding up the circle and gallery were still there, although blackened and charred. Owing to the Fire Curtain being in place, the stage house was saved and all the scenery and costumes of the play 'A Ring of Iron' by Mr Harvey's Company, were saved. The only loss was to Mr Carter Edwards who used one of the private stage boxes as a dressing room, he lost his collection of costumes and wigs. The loss was estimated to be in the region of £7,000.

The owner of the Theatre Royal and Opera House at the time, was Mr F. W. Purcell, who had insured his Theatre with three different insurance companies, namely the Phoenix, the Equitable, and the Westminster. The fire was thought to have been caused by a careless smoker dropping a lighted match before leaving. It was quickly decided to rebuild the Theatre, and the famous Victorian Theatre Architect Frank Matcham was employed again to design the replacement. The Theatre reopened on Monday the 4th March 1895 . The ERA of the 9th of March 1895 reported as follows:- 'The Theatre is one of the handsomest and most complete in the United Kingdom, Mr Matcham, the clever architect, having taken advantage of his past experience, and adapted all his best ideas in the construction of the building. The comfort of those in front and those behind the curtain have been fully provided for, and the arrangement for the clearing of the building, which is capable of seating over 2000 people, are so complete that in case of panic it can be cleared in less than two minutes. The various parts of the house are so arranged that a capital view of the stage can be obtained from any of them.

There are lavatories and retiring rooms, and every convenience provided for visitors. The decorations throughout are in the richest and most artistic style. The stage curtain is made of brocatelle, a very rich brown plush, and there is a fireproof curtain for use in case of fire. The stage itself has been made three feet wider than it was before. A new system of ventilation has been adopted, and the whole place is heated by means of hot-water pipes.' The ERA of 9th of March 1895 goes on to describe the grand opening night as follows:- 'There was a large and brilliant audience assembled on Monday night, and on the lights being turned up on the raising of the fireproof curtain the applause bestowed upon the appearance of the house must have been very gratifying for Mr Purcell and also to Mr Matcham .' The opening production was Mr Charles Wyndham's company under the personal direction and management of Miss Emma Hutchinson, in 'The Bauble Shop'. Prior to the play commencing, Mr C. S. Stone (for the company) explained that due to the illness of Mr F.

Maxwell, who should have played Viscount Clivebrook, Mr Matthew Brodie of London (who had played the part for some time during the plays London run) had been wired for, and although it was eighteen months since he had last played this part, had arrived in town and would play that night. After the Aeolian Choir had led the audience in the National Anthem, the play began. Others in the play were Mr Harold Maxwell as Mr Stoach, MP, Mr C. S. Stone as Mathew Keber, Miss Emma Hutchinson as Lady Kate Fennel, and Miss Ethel Kay as Jessie Keber. In the Interval Mr J. Pitt Hardacre of the Comedy Theatre Manchester appeared on stage and after congratulating Mr Purcell on being possessed of such a beautiful Theatre, presented him with a handsome present from his employees at his two other Theatres at Bury and Derby , 'as a token of the esteem and regard in which they held him'. Mr Purcell was also presented with a 'very handsome cigar case', by Mr Frank Matcham . Then Mr Purcell thanked Mr Hardacre and other friends and asked the audience 'Are you satisfied with what I have done for you?' A question which was answered with 'large applause'.

Mr Purcell then read telegrams received from Mr Wilson Barrett (who wired from New York). Mr Henry Irving , Mr J. L.Toole , Mr John Hare, Mr J. W. Turner, Mr D'Oyly Carte, Mr Edgar Bruce, Mr Edward Compton, Mr Horace Lingard, Mr Edward Tearle, Mr Charles Wyndham, Sir Augustus Harris, Mr Carl Rosa, Mrs Bandmann Palmer, Miss Isabelle Bateman, and Miss Fortesque. Frank Matcham , in a few words, congratulated the Rochdale public on their new Theatre, and after explaining the difficulties the contractors had had to deal with, the consequences of the recent heavy frost, joined with the audience in wishing Mr Purcell success in his new undertaking. It would seem that the new Theatre was a huge success and it continued to entertain the public of Rochdale for many years, but it once again caught fire on Wednesday the 24th November 1954. Eleven fire engines attended the fire from Rochdale, Ashton, Bury , Oldham , and Middleton. The fire was finally brought under control by 8.0am, however, there was just the shell of the building left.

Again it was thought that the cause of the fire was from a lighted match or cigarette dropped in the auditorium, or that the fire may have started in one of the Theatre's store rooms. The Variety show playing the Theatre at the time starred Tessie O'Shea and the pianist Semprini. The Fire Brigade fought to try to save Semprini's grand piano, but to no avail. The Theatre Royal and Opera House, then owned by Northern Theatres Company Limited, had served the town for many years, but like most Theatres in the 1950's, it had been struggling to keep going, and so with the fire the end had finally come for the Theatre, and it was subsequently demolished. The above article on the Theatre Royal & Opera House was written for this site by David Garratt in April 2014 and is © David Garratt 2014. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me .

Ohmy's Circus of Varieties, Newgate, Rochdale Other Names - The Circus of Varieties / The Circus & Hippodrome / The Hippodrome Theatre The Circus of Varieties was built in 1882 and opened in October the same year, it was situated in Newgate, the centre of Rochdale, Lancashire, and was built by an acrobat who appeared in Circuses and Music Halls , by the stage name of 'Ohmy the flyer' real name Joe Smith, (Presumably the name stuck by the reaction to his act by the audience of saying 'Oh my' to his daring feats). Locally the building was known as 'Ohmy's Circus.' and 'Th' O'wd Circus'. It was a wooden single storey building with a galvanised corrugated iron roof. Flat floored, all on the ground floor level. In fact the floor was dirt, flattened and covered with sawdust. The Circus of Varieties was closed and then re-opened on the 23rd October 1883 with the new name of 'The Circus and Hippodrome.' J. C.

Heffron, a famous Music Hall singer of the day, appeared there in December 1883. Famous local artist G. H. Elliott, later to be billed as 'the Chocolate coloured Coon,' made his first appearance there on the 1st September 1894 . Dr. Walford Bodie made an appearance there on the 14th of January 1901 with his company. He gave a demonstration of ventriloquism and hypnotism, convincing a man that he was General Butler in The South African Campaign (The Boar War). His electrical experiments are reported to have been of 'remarkable character'. Walford Bodie's sister Miss Marie Walford Bodie assisted on the piano, the Circus orchestra being conducted by Mr J. Izatt. The Theatre was owned by Messrs Joe Smith (Ohmy), Stephen Lee, and Thomas Hargreaves. In 1903 James Pringle showed early films by his North American Animated Photo Company.

These featured 'The Kings State entry into London,' a pantomime , 'The Forty Thieves,' a fantasy 'Trip to the Moon,' and a football match of Rochdale Town versus Chorley, which had been played the previous Saturday. At Intervals between the films Variety acts performed featuring: - Lavardo (in a triple bar act), Miss Florence Lorrell, (an illustrated songstress), Mr Fred Hudson, (a mimic), and Owen and Moore, (musical speciality artistes). Gracie Fields, a Rochdale lass, made her first stage appearance, in a talent competition winning joint first prize of Ten shillings, (50 pence today) at the age of seven in 1905 . She recalled visiting the Hippodrome with her mother who cleaned at the Theatre and also took in artistes' washing. Gracie often used to listen and watch from the stage wings. Right - Gracie Fields - From 'Music Hall at The Palace' a production at the Brighton Palace Pier Theatre . The Circus and Hippodrome was purchased by local entrepreneur James Jackson in 1907 .

James Jackson and the Jackson family formed Jackson Amusements Limited as the new owners of the theatre, and eventually had eight amusement cinema's and theatres in their portfolio. James Pringles film company returned again in February 1907 for a fortnight's run. This time the programme of films contained 'A Trip to Niagara,' 'Foul Play,' a bank robbery film, and a film depicting a village Fire Brigade. There was also a 'singing film' using 'The Chronophone,' which synchronised the song with the movement of the figures projected onto the screen. The variety programme this time featured Bert Tyrell, as a Tyrolean vocalist, and Chard's leaping Dogs. The Circus and Hippodrome was closed on the 30th May 1908 , due to the local Council deciding to cut a wider road through the Newgate area, necessitating the demolition of the old Circus building. James Jackson took the opportunity of building a brand new modern, well equipped, Hippodrome Theatre on the adjacent site to the old Circus building. The Jackson Family laid the foundation stone for the new Hippodrome Theatre on the 16th June 1908.

The new Hippodrome Theatre was built in record time and opened on the 16th November 1908 seating 1,800 people. It was a substantial brick building, designed by a Mr Hartman for Jackson's Amusements, and built by Messrs Peters and Woolfenden Ltd of Rochdale. The ground floor dimensions were, - 61 feet wide by 57 feet in length, and contained Orchestral Stalls, Pit, Circle, and Gallery. The seating capacities were:- Ground floor (Stalls and Pit) 800, Circle 400, and Gallery 600, Giving a total of 1,800 seats. However, the Theatre was said to be able to house 2,500 people with many packed in and standing. Every seat had an uninterrupted clear view of the stage. The stall's seats were of the tip up variety and upholstered in dark red plush. The Pit seating was of Pitch Pine. The Circle seats were also tip up chairs covered in American cloth. On each side of the proscenium arch was a stage box capable of accommodating 10 people in each box. The orchestra accommodated 13 musicians.

There was a temperance bar at the rear of the Circle. The circle level also housed cinematographic apparatus inside an asbestos lined box. The Theatre had lavatories on each floor, and numerous exits. The stage dimensions were 61 feet wide, 28 feet in depth, and 47 feet to the grid. Dressing rooms were situated each side of the stage. The proscenium was 32 feet wide and 24 feet high, having a fire proof curtain and fire proof pass doors from the stage to the rest of the Theatre. Underneath the stage was the orchestral retiring room and the heating chamber. On stage there were 400 electric lamps for illuminating the stage. The decoration was in cream and gold with symbolic figures surmounting the proscenium arch and the boxes. The Tableaux curtains (House curtains) were of rich crimson silk plush relieved with gold trimming, and the orchestral rail curtain was also lined in gold coloured sateen. The Stalls were carpeted in an Axminster carpet. The Circle entrance and stairway was laid with Scotch cork carpeting, with Grecian key bordering, and the edges with brass stair nosings.

The bar and dressing rooms were covered with cork lino, with plain cork carpeting of a thick gauge used on the Circle floor. The stairs were carpeted in real horse hair carpets for hard wear. The opening performance had hundreds of people waiting outside for the Theatre to open. When the curtain rose all the artists for the performance stood on the stage and the artists and audience sang the National Anthem. The solo was taken by Madam Bale, and the overture was conducted by Mr William Morgan. The performance consisted of: - Miss Jenny Lynwood (dainty comedienne), The Garricks (a quartet including Miss Queenie Finnis, Miss Agnes Tandy, Mr Ferris Pounds, and Mr Lawrence Wensley). Calcota appeared in a wayside episode entitled 'Rags and Tatters' containing (dancing, playing, and patter). Mysticus (experiences of spiritualism) created roars of laughter, George Leyton (actor vocalist), sang patriotic songs. He had raised considerable amounts of money to assist Crimean and Indian Mutiny veterans. He sang 'Lucknow' to audience applause. Then The Jackson Family appeared. (It was the Jackson family who had paid for and had the Theatre built.

They were a famous musical act who had toured the world, and had now settled in Rochdale as their home.) They performed musical items featuring violin, cello, piccolo, banjos, drums, and special bells. Next was Pat Lynch (dancing and tumbling). And the programme also featured the Bioscope. In the Interval Mr Jackson thanked the audience for the way they had rallied round, and promised good wholesome entertainment. Mr Albert Ball said 'He personally regarded such a house as one of the best temperance reformers they could have if it gave a working man an opportunity to spend an evening with his wife and family, and he returned home refreshed and ready for work the next morning', Applause from the audience. The new Theatre initially presented top variety to the public of Rochdale. Fred Karno's Company appeared there in January 1910 , and a local advert of the 15th January 1910 informed that on Monday next, twice nightly at 7.0pm and 9.pm 'Fred Karno's Company' would appear in 'Skating' a new sketch supported by Harry Lawson, (Comedian), Luzellas (in a Gymnastic Melange).

The Venetions, (Living Statuary). The Three Dixons, (Nelly, Lilly, and May), Barton Swingers, Ben Jackson, (Trick Soloist), The Hippodrome Pictures, and Fred Karno's 'Early Birds'. All at popular prices. Gracie Fields also appeared at the Theatre again in 1910 . Other Artists who played the Hippodrome through the years were:- Dan Leno, Robb Wilton, G. H. Elliott, George Formby, Sandy Powell, and Norman Evans. In 1920 architect Robert Cromie re-designed the Theatre, and in the early 1930's the Hippodrome was equipped with an RCA Sound system. Eventually it became a cinema with variety shows taking second place. The Hippodrome Cinema closed in 1957 being bought by Rochdale Corporation who still allowed theatrical performances by local amateur groups such as Rochdale and District Amateur Dramatic Society and the Kirholt Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Eventually Bingo took over.

The Hippodrome finally closed altogether and the Theatre was demolished in the 1970's, thus ending a long and interesting career as a Circus, Music Hall, Variety Theatre, Cinema, and Bingo Hall. The site of the old Theatre was replaced by Tax Offices. The above article on Ohmy's Circus Hippodrome was written for this site by David Garratt in March 2014 and is © David Garratt 2014. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me . Jeffrey's Music Hall, Drake Street, Rochdale The first Music Hall listed in Rochdale was 'Jeffrey's Music Hall', which opened on the 19th April 1865 in Drake Street, Rochdale. The building was a Chapel conversion to a Music Hall Theatre. Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed in Rochdale in December 1867 possibly at this Hall. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me .

The Theatre, Rochdale There is a record of a Methodist Meeting House together with twelve cottages being purchased and converted into a Playhouse called The Theatre in 1794 with a ground rent of £5.00 per annum on a 999 years lease. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me . Archive newspaper reports on this page were collated and kindly sent in for inclusion by B.F . Gracie Fields Theatre (Hudsons Walk, Rochdale) | The List Gracie Fields Theatre Hudsons Walk, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL11 5EW Box office 0843 208 1835 General enquiries 01706 716689 @GFTheatre Named after the Rochdale singer, actress and comedian Dame Gracie Fields the theatre was opened in 1978 by Gracie herself. The programme offers a mix of theatre, dance, comedy and live music, both contemporary and classical. The venue is home to Rochdale Amateur Operatic Society who perform a wide variety of productions and raise money for local charities.

Gracie Fields Theatre also sponsor Rochdale Youth Orchestra who hold their annual Christmas concert at the venue. There is a lounge bar on the first floor serving drinks and a ground floor kiosk selling light refreshments, snacks and ice cream. Rochdale Train Station is 2.35 miles from the Gracie Fields Theatre and parking is free of charge. "Gracie" | The List Gracie's of Broughty Ferry 175 Brook Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, DD5 1DJ Named after the owner’s young daughter, Gracie’s is a coffee spot in the morning, casual eatery at lunch and host to the occasional comedy night in the evening. A former café, the new owners are turning the venue into an informal bistro, with gourmet… Gracie Fields Theatre Hudsons Walk, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL11 5EW Named after the Rochdale singer, actress and comedian Dame Gracie Fields the theatre was opened in 1978 by Gracie herself. The programme offers a mix of theatre, dance, comedy and live music, both contemporary and classical.

The venue is home to… Gracie Fields | Agatha Christie Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Grace Stansfield was born over a fish and chip shop owned by her grandmother, Sarah Bamford, in Molesworth Street, Rochdale, Lancashire. She made her first stage appearance as a child in 1905, joining children's repertory theatre groups such as 'Haley's Garden of Girls' and the 'Nine Dainty Dots'. Her two sisters, Edith and Betty and brother, Tommy, all went on to appear on stage, but Gracie was the most successful. Her professional debut in variety took place at the Rochdale Hippodrome theatre in 1910 and she soon gave up her job in the local cotton mill, where she was a half-timer, spending half a week in the mill and the other half at school. She met comedian and impresario Archie Pitt and they began working together. Pitt gave Fields champagne on her 18th birthday, and wrote in an autograph book to her that he would make her a star. Pitt would come to serve as her manager and the two married in 1923 at Clapham Register Office.

Their first revue in 1915 was called Yes I Think So and the two continued to tour Britain together until 1924 in the revue Mr Tower of London, with other reviews including By Request, It's A Bargain and The Show's The Thing. Archie Pitt was the brother of Bert Aza, founder of the Aza agency, who were responsible for many talents of the day including the actor and comedian Stanley Holloway, who was introduced to Aza by Fields. Fields and Holloway first worked together on her film Sing As We Go in 1934 and the two remained close friends for the rest of their lives. Fame Edit Fields came to major public notice when Mr Tower of London came to the West End. Her career rapidly accelerated from this point with straight dramatic performances and the beginning of a recording career. One of her most successful productions was at the Alhambra Theatre, London, in 1925. The show, booked by Sir Oswald Stoll, was a major success and toured for ten years, throughout the UK. She later said "One day I was in Plymouth's Palace Theatre and the next playing Blackpool!".

She made the first of ten appearances in Royal Variety Performances in 1928, following a premiere stint at the London Palladium, gaining a devoted following with a mixture of self-deprecating jokes, comic songs and monologues, as well as cheerful "depression-era" songs all presented in a "no-airs-and-graces" Northern, working class style. She recorded her first record for HMV Because I Love You and My Blue Heaven in 1928. At one point, Fields was playing three shows a night in London's West End. She appeared in the Pitt production she was working on, with Gerald Du Maurier in the straight play SOS at the St James's Theatre, with also a cabaret spot at the Cafe de Paris following this. Fields had a great rapport with her audience, which helped her become one of Britain's highest paid performers, playing to sold out theatres across the country. Her most famous song, which became her theme, "Sally," was worked into the title of her first film, Sally in Our Alley (1931), which was a major box office hit.

She went on to make several films initially in Britain and later in the United States (for which she was paid a record fee of £200,000 for four films). Regardless, she never enjoyed the process of performing without a live audience, and found the process of film-making boring. She tried to opt out of filming, before director Monty Banks persuaded her otherwise, landing her the lucrative Hollywood deal. Fields demanded that the four films were to be filmed in Britain and not Hollywood, and this was the case. Ironically, the final few lines of the song "Sally" were written by her husband's mistress, Annie Lipman, and Fields sang this song at nearly every performance she made from 1931 onwards – claiming in later life that she wanted to "Drown blasted Sally with Walter with the aspidistra on top!" Charity work Edit The late 1930s saw her popularity peak and she was given many honours: the Officer of the Venerable Order of St. John (for charity work), the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) (for services to entertainment) in 1938 and the Freedom of the Borough of Rochdale.

She donated her house, The Towers, 53 The Bishops Avenue, London, N2 0BJ (which she had not much cared for and which she had shared with her husband Archie Pitt and his mistress) to a maternity hospital after the marriage broke down. In 1939, she became seriously ill with cervical cancer. The public sent over 250,000 goodwill messages and she retired to her villa on Capri. After she recovered, she recorded a very special 78rpm record simply called Gracie's Thanks, in which she thanks the public for the many cards and letters she received while in hospital. During World War II, she paid for all servicemen/women to travel free on public transport within the boundaries of Rochdale. Fields also helped Rochdale F.C. in the 1930s when they were struggling to pay fees and buy sports equipment. In 1933 she set up the Gracie Fields Children's Home and Orphanage at Peacehaven, Sussex for children of those in the theatre profession who could not look after their children. She kept this until 1967, when the home was no longer needed.

This was near her own home in Peacehaven, and Fields often visited, with the children all calling her 'Aunty Grace'. World War II Edit World War II was declared while she was recovering in Capri, and Fields - still very ill after her cancer surgery, threw herself into her work and signed up for ENSA headed by her old film producer, Basil Dean. Fields travelled to France to entertain the troops in the midst of air-raids, performing on the backs of open lorries and in war-torn areas. She was the first artist to play behind enemy lines in Berlin. Following her divorce from Archie Pitt, she married Italian-born film director Monty Banks in March 1940. However, because Banks remained an Italian citizen and would have been interned in the United Kingdom, she was forced to leave Britain for North America during the war, at the instruction of Winston Churchill, who told her to "Make American Dollars, not British Pounds," which she did, in aid of the Navy League and the Spitfire Fund. She and Banks moved to their home in Santa Monica, California.

She did, occasionally, return to Britain, to show she was not, indeed, a traitor, performing in factories and army camps around the country. After their initial argument, Parliament offered her an official apology. She is mentioned several times in Spike Milligan's war memoirs during the years 1943 to 1945 with both respect and appreciation for her personability and her wartime efforts, as well as affectionate criticism of her comedy and performance style. Although she continued to spend much of her time entertaining troops and otherwise supporting the war effort outside Britain, this, inevitably, led to a fall-off in her popularity at home. She performed many times for Allied troops, travelling as far as New Guinea, where she received an enthusiastic response from Australian personnel. Late 1945 saw her tour the South Pacific Islands. Post World War II Edit After the war, Fields continued her career less actively. She began performing in Britain again in 1948 headlining the London Palladium over Eartha Kitt who was also on the bill.

The BBC gave her her own radio show in 1947 dubbed Our Gracie's Working Party in which 12 towns were visited by Fields, and a live show of music and entertainment was broadcast weekly with Fields compering and performing, and local talents also on the bill. This tour commenced in Rochdale. Like so many BBC shows at the time this show transferred to Radio Luxembourg in 1950, sponsored by Wisk soap powder. Billy Ternent and his Orchestra accompanied her. In 1951, Fields opened the Festival of Britain celebrations. She proved popular once more, though never regaining the status she enjoyed in the 1930s. She continued recording, but made no more films, moving more towards light classical music as popular tastes changed, often adopting a religious theme. She continued into the new medium of LP records, and recorded new takes of her old favourite songs, as well as new and recent tracks to 'liven things up a bit'. Monty Banks died in 1950 of a heart attack while travelling on the Orient Express . Two years later Fields married Boris Alperovici, a Romanian radio repairman.

She claimed that he was the love of her life, and that she couldn't wait to propose to him. She proposed on Christmas Day in front of friends and family. They married at the Church of S. Stefano on Capri in a quiet ceremony before honeymooning in Rome. She lived on her beloved Isle of Capri for the remainder of her life, at her home La Canzone Del Mare, a swimming and restaurant complex which Fields' home overlooked. It was favoured by many Hollywood stars during the 1950s, with regular guests including Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Greta Garbo and Noël Coward. Later years Edit She began to work less, but still toured the UK under the management of Harold Fielding, manager of top artists of the day such as Tommy Steele and Max Bygraves. Her UK tours proved popular, and in the mid 1960s she performed farewell tours in Australia, Canada and America - the last performance was recorded and released years later. In 1956, Fields played Miss Marple in a US TV production of Agatha Christie 's A Murder is Announced .

The production featured Jessica Tandy and Roger Moore, and predates the Margaret Rutherford films by some five years. She also starred in television productions of A Tale of Two Cities, The Old Lady Shows Her Medals – for which she won a TV Award – and Mrs 'Aris Goes to Paris, which was remade years later with Angela Lansbury as Mrs Harris, a charwoman in search of a fur coat. (A Christian Dior gown in Lansbury's case.) In 1957, her single, "Around the World" peaked at No.8 in the UK Singles Chart, with her recording of "Little Donkey" reaching No.20 in November 1959. She was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1960 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre. Fields regularly performed in TV appearances, being the first entertainer to perform on Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium. Fields had two Christmas TV specials in 1960 and 1961, singing her old favourites and new songs in front of a studio audience.

1971 saw A Gift For Gracie, another TV special presented by Fields and Bruce Forsyth. This followed on from her popularity on Stars on Sunday, a religious programme on Britain's ITV , in which well known performers sang hymns or read extracts from the Bible. Fields was the most requested artist on the show. In 1968, Fields headlined a two week Christmas stint at Yorkshire's prestigious Batley Variety Club. "I was born over a fish and chip shop – I never thought I'd be singing in one!" claimed Fields during the performance recorded by the BBC. In 1975, her album, The Golden Years, reached No.48 in the UK Albums Chart. In 1978, she opened the Gracie Fields Theatre, located next to Oulder Hill Community School, in her native Rochdale, performing a concert there recorded by the BBC to open the show. Fields appeared in ten Royal Variety Performances from 1928 onwards, her last being in 1978 at the age of 80 when she appeared as a surprise guest in the finale, in which she appeared and sang her theme song, "Sally".

Her final TV appearance came in January 1979 when she appeared in a special octogenarian edition of The Merv Griffin Show in America, in which she sang the song she popularised in America, "The Biggest Aspidistra In The World". Fields was notified by her confidante John Taylor while she was in America that she had the invitation to become a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire , to which she replied: "Yes I'll accept, yes I can kneel – but I might need help getting back up, and yes I'll attend – as long as they don't call Boris 'Buttons'." Fields' health declined in July 1979, when she contracted pneumonia after performing an open air concert on the Royal Yacht which was docked in Capri's harbour. After a spell in hospital, she seemed to be recovering, but died on 27 September 1979. The press reported she died holding her husband's hand, but in reality he was at their Anacapri home at the time, while Gracie was home with the housekeeper, Irena. She is buried in the non-Catholic cemetery on Capri; the Protestant Cemetery. in a white marble tomb.

Her coffin was carried by staff from her restaurant. Her husband Boris died in 1984. Honours Edit In February 1979, she was invested as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire seven months before her death at her home on Capri, aged 81. On 3 October 2009 the final train to run on the Oldham Loop before it closed to be converted to a tramway, a Class 156, was named in her honour. Fields was granted the Freedom of Rochdale. The local theater in Rochdale, the Gracie Fields Theatre, was opened by her in 1978. Miscellaneous The Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust holds the 'Gracie Fields Archive'. In 2009, Jane Horrocks took the lead in the BBC TV production Gracie!, a drama portraying the life of Fields just before and during World War II and her relationship with Monty Banks (played by Tom Hollander). Jewish jazz pianist Irving Fields was born Isadore Schwartz, taking the name Fields from his sister Peppy, who had borrowed the name in tribute to Gracie Fields.

BBC - Domesday Reloaded: Entertainment Share this Entry 1986 Entertainment The Gracie Fields' Theatre, situated within the Oulder Hill Community School campus, is approx. one mile from the town centre. It was named after Rochdale's first lady of song, who opened the theatre in 1978. Gracie was born on the 9th January 1898 and started life as a cotton winder before making her name on stage and films. This theatre seats 670 and offers a wide range of entertainment both at amateur and professional levels. Champness Hall is in the centre of Rochdale and was opened on the 8th September 1925. It is famous for its musical concerts and has a huge organ, which produces perfect notes in ideal acoustic surroundings. Pictures from this D-block Gracie Fields - The Theatres Trust Gracie Fields Oulder Hill Community School, Hudsons Walk, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL11 5EF, England Details This theatre has claims to be one of the best dual-use theatres built in the North - as part of the Oulder Hill Community School it provides educational facilities, and it is also available to touring companies.

However the past management committee has not promoted theatre use to the full, and as a result a fine facility is used less than it might be. There is an adjustable soft proscenium stage, at the rear of which are choir stalls in fixed tiers. The grid has twenty-four hemp sets, and the orchestra pit (with lift) can accommodate twenty musicians. There is no sub-stage area. Seating is in a single rake with central gangway and cross-over, with a bar/lounge at the rear of the auditorium. There is good legroom throughout the auditorium, but disabled access is limited. Externally the building blends well with the school and is predominantly glass-fronted with grey shuttering. Unfortunately it is situated out of the town centre, although it is well signposted, and parking facilities are good. 1978 Design/Construction: as part of school complex Greenhalgh & Williams Partnership - Architect

Question: The Gracie Fields Theatre opened in which town in 1978?
Answer: Rochdale